Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputies Perry and Neville.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill. I listened to a number of Government speakers who offered a stream of negativity and cast their eyes towards this side of the House in order to apportion blame to Fine Gael in respect of what has occurred. My party has not been in power for 12 years but the economy was in good shape when we left office. What has been said is unfair and it will not wash. However, the previous two speakers, Deputies Chris Andrews and Cyprian Brady, made extremely positive and balanced contributions. If there was more of that kind of debate, it would assist the process and increase the standing of this House among members of the public. Deputies Chris Andrews and Cyprian Brady and I might differ in terms of approach, but good and wholesome debate of a magnanimous nature — which the Acting Chairman, Deputy O'Connor, promotes on most occasions — is always welcome.

Fine Gael set out its stall early in respect of the pension levy. I was a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas in the 1980s during an extremely challenging period. This was the era prior to American investment, the technology revolution, the advent of huge amounts of EU Structural Funds, the tax amnesties and the inquiries. It was also the era prior to the banks beginning to lend money. During the period in question, the banks penalised people and put them out of business. Due to the fact that the banks could set them, at one point interest rates stood at more than 22%. At that time, the banks were reckless with people's livelihoods in a different way and did a great deal of damage to the country.

I was a Member of the Seanad during the period to which I refer and I am in a position to state that there was not one positive contribution made by those who were in opposition. They did not indicate the areas in which they would spend money or outline where they would make cuts. Instead, they engaged in total opposition. Fine Gael is at least bringing forward proposals in this regard at present. We made such a proposal in respect of where the €2 billion in savings might be made. That is unprecedented in this House. Deputies Bruton and Kenny have put forward several proposals, but they appear to be falling on deaf ears. People do not want to give the Deputies credit. What Deputy Bruton has stated in respect of bad banks, good banks, etc., might be the only option.

I wish to speak on behalf of public servants, particularly those in my constituency who are friends of mine. I received approximately 400 e-mails from teachers, gardaí, HSE employees, lecturers, etc., who are angry and are of the view that they have been identified for special treatment. When these people consider that there are 20,000 individuals in the private sector who each earn more than €200,000 per annum and whose incomes are not being touched, they become extremely angry.

Two Saturdays ago, I was visited at my clinic by a woman who is married to a civil servant who works in the town in which I live and who earns €45,000 per year. They have two children and lead a normal life. She informed me that when they pay their expenses — mortgage, etc. — they have only €100 left over to purchase clothes and other things for themselves and their children. The family to which I refer is living on the breadline. However, the average wage in the public service is between €30,000 and €33,000. Those earning that amount are really being penalised. The case has been made that people on higher incomes who can reclaim tax, will pay less than those to whom I refer. That is why they are angry and annoyed.

Deputy Cyprian Brady referred to a wedge. That wedge has been driven deep and the solidarity that was created through social partnership — of which I am very much in favour and which I would hate to see being abandoned — has disappeared.

People are becoming extremely riled in respect of the issues relating to Anglo Irish Bank. The Government nationalised Anglo Irish Bank but allowed those who took the decision on what has been described as the Quinn shares deal and who were involved in the loan from Irish Life & Permanent to remain in charge. The old guard has regrouped and retained control of the bank.

While I was pleased to learn members of the Garda Síochána were sent into Anglo Irish Bank today at the request of the Office of Corporate Enforcement, why was the Garda not involved earlier? Senior executives of the bank should step aside until the current investigations by the Office of Corporate Enforcement and Financial Regulator have been completed. The Taoiseach has indicated these executives must receive due process. Let them step aside and allow others run the bank while the investigations are taking place.

Many farmers around the country are up to their necks in debt as a result of decisions taken on the farm waste management scheme. They were forced to borrow money and proceed with works because of the manner in which the scheme was administered, the deadline which applied and so forth. They are now in trouble as they face the prospect of a 15 cent reduction in the price of a litre of milk, non-payment of the rural environment protection scheme payment arising from bureaucracy and the non-payment of moneys under the farm waste management scheme. The Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, will know many farmers in County Roscommon who will be adversely affected by the provision to pay outstanding moneys under the farm waste management scheme in instalments of 40%, 40% and 20%. This will create a further crisis shortly.

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